Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara

About

In "Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara," join Koa and Napopo on a quest to traverse wild islands, defeat pirate bosses, and discover eight diverse worlds. Sail the ocean, upgrade your boat, and unlock new skins and backpacks for Koa while meeting memorable characters and uncovering hidden secrets. With beautiful visuals and levels that cater to both casual and experienced players, this platforming adventure pays homage to classic games.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara screenshot

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 193 reviews

gameplay30 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara is a charming and colorful 3D platformer that offers enjoyable gameplay with a focus on speedrunning and exploration.
The game features a variety of levels with unique mechanics and environments, making it engaging for both casual players and those seeking challenges.
The controls are responsive and intuitive, allowing players to master the roll-jump mechanic for fast-paced traversal.

The story and character dialogue are minimal and often repetitive, lacking depth and engagement.
The fixed camera can be frustrating, leading to awkward perspectives that hinder gameplay, especially during fast-paced sections.
Some players may find the game too easy, with a lack of significant challenges or variety in gameplay mechanics.

gameplay
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
56%
7%
The gameplay in "Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara" is characterized by a mix of 3D platforming, varied level designs, and unique mechanics that keep the experience engaging, despite some criticisms of repetitiveness and a lack of depth. Players appreciate the smooth controls and charming visuals, though some find the fixed camera and frequent interruptions during gameplay to be disruptive. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable mechanics and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic platformers, it could benefit from additional features like multiplayer or more challenging elements to enhance replayability.
- “The gameplay is smooth and addictive, the collectables make your eyes pop and everything feels very achievable from when you start playing.”
- “Great level design for all three game styles, the gameplay is spot on and there's a lot of variety of environments, events, and types of levels.”
- “Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara is a very minimalistic 3D platformer that gets a lot of things right in terms of gameplay and feel, although it has its shortcomings in other areas.”
- “The developers did try to vary levels a little, as there are some 2D sections, some autoscroll levels where you're chased or there's rising lava or where you have to dash, and there's some swimming and diving levels, but I think the game lacks the mechanical depth needed to keep things interesting.”
- “The biggest problems are the repetitive gameplay and the missing of a coop mode in my opinion.”
- “Sure, I get it that games like these can benefit from shaking up their gameplay with the occasional underwater level, auto scroller, and auto runner, but having all three of those within the first 10ish levels isn't an attempt to shake up stale gameplay; it's, in my opinion, an unwarranted lack of confidence in what seems to be the core gameplay of this game.”
story
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
72%
5%
The story in "Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara" is generally viewed as simplistic and predictable, often feeling like an afterthought in a game primarily focused on gameplay. While some players appreciate the charming characters and lighthearted narrative, many find the plot lacking depth and engagement, with minimal character development and repetitive dialogue. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable for casual players who prioritize gameplay over a compelling story.
- “A wonderfully wholesome story with great gameplay akin to the classic platformers of the 2000s with great controls!”
- “The writing and storytelling is wonderful, because the game highlights both the joy and absurdity of living as a child in a surreal adult landscape.”
- “The story is cute and simple; I actually enjoyed the personalities of all the pirates, and Koa is very charming.”
- “I wasn't invested in the story, and it was quite predictable and always the same.”
- “There's not much of a story as it seems to be a last minute addition.”
- “Unfortunately, the story is a bit of an afterthought and not the main reason to play the game in the first place; it's serviceable, but nothing more.”
graphics
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
52%
6%
The graphics of the game have received largely positive feedback, with many reviewers praising the vibrant, cute art style and charming visuals that evoke nostalgia and a playful atmosphere. However, some noted inconsistencies in the art style across different elements, and a few expressed that the visuals felt familiar or less innovative compared to previous titles from the developer. Overall, the graphics are described as eye-catching and enjoyable, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “I really liked the visuals and the characters, and this brings that back, while altogether being a solidly built (but easy) speedrunning platformer.”
- “The graphics are literally eye candy.”
- “The game has a very colorful, cute art style that will be appealing to all ages.”
- “I also noticed a real inconsistency in the art style between the 3D models, the character portraits, the trailer, and the title screen.”
- “Unfortunately, as stated above, these visuals are beginning to lose their radiance to me as everything is replicated from the developer’s previous games.”
- “However, although the genres are changing frequently, the game feels too familiar with its unchanging art style, overlay, characters, and so forth.”
music
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
28%
10%
The music in the game is generally described as charming, catchy, and fitting well with the overall positive atmosphere, though some reviewers noted it lacks memorability. The soundtrack is often compared to nostalgic Nintendo tunes and is appreciated for its ability to enhance the gameplay experience, despite a few mentions of repetitiveness. Overall, the music contributes to a pleasant and relaxing vibe, complementing the game's visuals and mechanics effectively.
- “It was honestly super fun with a cute soundtrack and a long jump mechanic that forces you to perform an almost hypnotic sort of rocking of your thumb; it's really fun to get in a groove doing it.”
- “Adrian Berenguer has composed a joyous, energetic soundtrack that gives Koa such a fresh vibe.”
- “The level design, music, and controls are all very polished and well done.”
- “The music is unfortunately forgettable, at worst failing to match the vibe of what Koa's doing.”
- “Sound is minimal, with a relaxed soundtrack playing in the background of each level.”
- “The plot is very light (honestly I was skimming most of the dialog, but was still able to follow) and the music is not really anything special (I started just listening to Spotify while playing after World 3), but for what it was, I enjoyed myself.”
emotional
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its wholesome and nostalgic atmosphere, appealing to players seeking a light-hearted experience reminiscent of classic platformers. While many appreciate the vibrant visuals and playful soundtrack, some critiques highlight a lack of meaningful dialogue, suggesting that the emotional depth may not resonate with all players. Overall, it is seen as a charming option for casual gaming, particularly for families.
- “A wonderfully wholesome story with great gameplay akin to the classic platformers of the 2000s with great controls!”
- “I play a ton of games and enjoy them, but sometimes, it's nice to just have something that's not too long, not too hard and just wholesome throughout.”
- “So if you're in the mood for something wholesome, this will no doubt do your gamer's heart good, if only for a short while.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
Overall, "Koa" demonstrates solid optimization, particularly on the Steam Deck, where players report smooth 60 fps performance and no significant issues. However, some users experienced subpar performance on PC, suggesting a need for future patches to enhance the experience for those platforms.
- “Touching on the visuals and audio, we’re happy to report we didn’t run into any performance issues during our playthrough and for that we’re glad, because we got to fully enjoy the vibrantly fun graphics and playful soundtrack.”
- “(Also, I played it entirely on Deck and had zero performance or crashing issues, so this is a must-have.)”
- “Performance on my PC was much worse than ought to be expected for a game that looks like it ought to be able to easily run on my phone.”
- “I hope the devs intend to bring several performance patches to the game so that others will have a smoother experience than I did at launch.”
- “Koa plays well across the board; I played it on my Steam Deck and was overall really satisfied with the smooth 60 fps performance.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The game offers high replayability, particularly appealing to speedrunners and achievement hunters. Players can revisit previous rounds to improve their times, collect hidden items, and unlock additional areas for mini-games, enhancing the overall experience.
- “One of the last things I want to talk about in this section is the sheer amount of replayability Koa has.”
- “Replayability is quite high as well, since players can go back to previous rounds and try to achieve the fastest run time, collect all hidden items found around the level, or unlock other areas around the map for fun mini-games.”
- “One of the last things I want to talk about in this section is the sheer amount of replayability this game has.”
- “[b]Replayability value:[/b] Yes, for speedrunners and achievement hunters.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its cute visuals and witty dialogue, creating a joyful experience that resonates with players. The comedic elements are enhanced by the game's playful design, allowing for amusing moments even during speed runs. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
- “The dialogue's pretty funny.”
- “This 3D platformer is a roller coaster of joy; even if you're a speed-running snail like me, the game offers paths that you'll inevitably stumble upon in the most hilarious ways.”
- “The visuals are super cute, the characters are funny, and overall it feels like a great platformer.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a lighthearted and cheerful vibe, reminiscent of Studio Ghibli films, making it an enjoyable and wholesome experience. Players appreciate the uplifting music and the overall feel, which complements the game's quick and easy platforming elements.
- “Koa is not a hard or long game, but has an atmosphere of lighthearted cheerfulness that makes it enjoyable to spend the night playing.”
- “Koa is not a hard or long game, but has an atmosphere of lighthearted cheerfulness that makes it enjoyable to spend the night getting through.”
- “I love the music and the atmosphere in these games, which is clearly influenced by Studio Ghibli movies.”
- “If you're looking for a quick and easy platforming experience with a wholesome atmosphere, I highly recommend this game.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The character development has been criticized for its unattractive designs, which detract from the overall appeal of the characters.
- “The character designs are unappealing and lack creativity.”
- “I found the character development to be shallow and uninspired.”
- “The characters feel one-dimensional and fail to evolve throughout the game.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the grinding aspect in "Summer in Mara" as it blends casual farming simulation with adventure elements, making the repetitive tasks feel engaging and enjoyable rather than tedious.
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report a high level of stability, with many experiencing no bugs, glitches, or game-breaking issues, highlighting this as a commendable achievement for the game.